Life-boat.



No. 768,534. 'PATENTED' AUG. 23, 1904.

I R. D. MAYO.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLIQATION FILED NOV. 16, 1903.

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' R. D. MAYO.

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UNITED STATES Patented August 23', 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE.

ROBERT DAVID MAYO, OF FRANKFORT, MICHIGAN.

LIFE-BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,534, dated August 2.3, 1904. Application filed November 16,1903. Serial No. 181,416. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT DAVID MAYO, a citizen of the United States,residing at Frankfort, in the county of Benzie and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Boats, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in inclosed life-boats-having a revoluble shell supporting a self-adjusting carriage; and its objects are, first. to provide for the perfect adjustment of the carriage; second, to provide a means whereby an abundance of air may be admitted to the carriage-chamber within the revoluble shell without danger of shipping water through the air-passages; third, to avert the danger, first, of overheating the carriage chamber from the suns rays upon the outside, and, second, of overheating and shrinking the shell to cause a leak from the same cause, and, fourth, to provide a means whereby practically the entire length of the shell may be utilized for the carriage ofpassengers.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1, is a longitudinal section of a portion of the shell on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same on the line as of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section 'of the stern of the boat on the line Y Y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: shows the end door that closes the stern-hatchway of the shell. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the ends of the center track upon which the carriage is supported. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the bow ofthe boat on the line 2 a of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section of the same looking to the right. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the bulkhead on the line Y Y of Fig. 2 with the dashboard-doors open and showing the manner of supporting the end of the carriage. Fig. 9 is the same, showing the dashboard-doors closed and locked. Fig. 10 shows a turnbuckle attachment upon Fig. 11 is a detached view of a portion of the end supporti-ng-track, and Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the end supporting-track} Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In constructing this boat the shell A is of the usual annular cigar-shaped pattern with a bulkhead D at each end, which form two airtight compartments A, and within these compartments I place cones E E, cut off near the apex and secured to the extreme end of the shell and the base secured to the bulkhead D, said cones forming openings for the free circulation of air to the carriage-compartment back of or between the bulkheads. About onethird of the diameter of the bulkhead is cut out at the center, and a revoluble dashboard D, having an outwardly-swinging door d and an inwardly-swinging door 61 secured thereto, and the base of the cone is considerably larger in diameter than the opening, so that any water that may splash through into' the cone will flow out through the inner row of pipes e, which areimmediately adjacent to the bulkheads and act, with the outer row of pipes e, to form air-flues into the cone and waterflues out. of it.

The cone E and opening at the stern of the boat is much larger than the cone E at the bow of the boat, so that'a person may easily pass in and out through it, and is provided with a closing device F, which is to be inserted from within the boatand secured to place by the'latches f, having the handles f" and pivoted to the wall of the closing device,

as at f", so that they may be operated to lock and release the device as desired. I prefer that this device be perforated, as indicated at f in Fig. 4, as by this means an abundance of fresh air may enter the boat, while the danger of water flowing in in suflicient quantities to choke the outflow through the pipes 6 would be wholly averted.

For the purpose of securing the dashboard D into the bulkhead D and insuring a watertight joint I place an annular projecting rim G in the bulkhead and form the dashboard of two thicknesses'of plank with cork gaskets and one opened.

Sol.

y inserted near the periphery in position to engage the sides of the rim G, to which it is held by the bolts it" sufficiently close to prevent water from passing through, yet loose enough so that it will turn easily with the carriage as the shell revolves. To facilitate this action, I place antifriction-rollers d upon the bolts h in position to run upon the edge of the annular rim G as a track and support the entire weight of the dashboards.

The upper half of the dashboard D is divided into an outwardly-swinging door d and an inwardly-swinging door (Z, pivoted upon the dashboard by the hinges d and so arranged that they may be opened, as in Fig. 8, or closed, as in Fig. 9, or one may be closed The door (Z is perforated with a number of air-holes d", which are inclined upward, so that while air may pass through freely water that may dash through the cones E or IE will strike against the door and flow off as though there were no holes through the door. This is for use when there is a heavy sea and danger of water spattering in with the doors open, and the closing of both doors is designed to avert all danger of water entering through the cones into the carriage-compartment by reason of the boat being drawn into the vortex of a sinking ves- When closed, the doors may be securely fastened by means of the hook L, which passes through the door (Z and acts upon an incline Z in the door d.

With this boat I use but one passenger-carriage B, which extends the entire length of the shell between the bulkheadsD and is supported as follows: At each end I secure a track H to the bulkhead I), and outside of this is a second movable track H, that is open at one point and provided with downwardly projecting flanges lb, through which I pass a bolt d, by means of which it is secured to position, and between these two tracks I place a series of antifriction-rollers H, usually supported in rims or side links H, so that the tracks H will revolve freely around the track H, or, rather,

the track H will revolve freely with the shell, while the carriage B and the track H will retain their normal position with the carriage, their relative position with the shell being revoluble, but practically suspended from the top of the track H by the supporting-rods b, which are secured at one end to the track H and at the other end to the sides of the carriage at each end. I also secure supports I upon the bolts 2" in such a position that an arm 2' may be secured to the lateral center of the bottom of the carriage B. To insure the holding of the dashboard D in proper position at all times, I secure a lever it to the dashboard by means of the bolts it in such a position that its lower end will engage the projection 2' on the support I and will hold for the passage of supporting-rods and l.

The rods 0 are secured to a roller C directly above and extend down and are secured to the lateral center of the carriage B, while the rods Z) are secured to rollers C at each side and extend down and are secured to the sides of the carriage, and the several rollers are connected with links in the usual manner, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. land by the links or rims H in Fig. 11.

As conditions are likely to arise that cause the strain upon the several supporting-rods to vary, I have provided for adjusting them by means-of turnbuckles c, I), and l. respectively. \Vhen the turnbuckle .l is used, it is necessary to divide the red I, forming the rods I, I, and turnbuckle I, as shown in Fig. 10, and for the purpose of safely supporting the carriage in case any of the supporting-rods break or become inoperative I place supplementary rollers (7" between the carriage and the supporting-ribs in the shell, as indicated in Fig. 1.

I form brakes to hold the carriage to posi tion by the use of an eccentric B, pivotally secured in the end of the carriage in position to be made to bear against the bulkheads l) and provided with a handle or lever l for actuating the same, and to avert the danger of friction by reason of the carriage being thrown or swung endwise in the shell I place antifrictionrrollers B* between the bearings or track B in the carriage and the tracks C in the shell, all as shown in Fig. .1.

J represents a port-hole in the side of the shell, which may be placed in any part of the shell or in any desired numbers, for the ingress and egress of passengers and should be provided with a water-tight gasket at the joint 7', and K represents a standing keel placed upon the boat for the purpose, first, of counterbalancing the weight of the metal covers to the port-holes J, and, second, to assist to hold the boat in position to be safely towed or otherwise propelled through the water when the weather is calm enough for propelling it, when the carriage should be locked to position in the shell by the eccentric B, with the keel K directly under the shell.

M represents a strengthening rib or plank through the center of the carriage. N represents the floor of the carriage, and O repre-l sents the seats of the same.

It will be readily seen that the air-space.

within this boat is so great that it floats lightly upon the water and leaves the pipes e so far above the water as to insure a free flow of water therethrough sufficient to avert all danger of the cones E or E filling with water above the dashboards D.

My means of averting the danger of overheating the carriage compartment or of shrinking the shell by the intense rays of the sun consists of constructing the shell of, first, wood oriron a, secured to the ribs P; second, a coat of insulating substance 60, preferably of asbestos, and, third, of a canvas or other suitable coat a over all. (See Figs. 2 and One of the most important advantages of this construction is that it renders the lifeboat practically fireproof, a great advantage of its use if called for to rescue passengers from a burning ship, and at the same time provides a much more buoyant construction than iron, steel, or other fire and water proof material.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a life-boat, a cigar-shaped revoluble shell with a bulkhead at each end thereof forming air-compartments and a relatively revoluble carriage within said shell, in combination-with annular tracks upon the bulkheads, annular revoluble tracks outside thereof, antifriction-rollers between said tracks, and adjustable supporting-rods connecting the-annular revoluble tracks with the ends of the carriage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 1

2. In a life-boat, a cigar-shaped revoluble shell, with a bulkhead at each end forming air-compartments and a relatively revoluble carriage within the shell; incombination with annular stationary tracks secured to the bulkheads, revoluble tracks encircling said stationary track, antifriction rollers between said tracks, 'longitudinally-adjustable supporting-rods connecting the revoluble tracks with the carriage, in combination'with relatively revoluble dashboards in the bulkheads, swing-doors in said dashboards, walls forming conical-shaped openings between the bulkheads and the ends of the boat, and pipes leading from these walls to the periphery of the shell, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a life-boat a revoluble cigar-shaped shell with a bulkhead at each end forming aircompartments and a relatively revoluble carriage in said shell, in combination with annular tracks secured to the bulkheads, revoluble annular tracks encircling the stationary tracks,

antifriction rollers between the revoluble tracks and thestationary tracks, supportingrods connecting the revoluble tracks with the carriage, anannular track at the longitudinal center of the shell, antifriction-rollers in said tracks, adjustable supporting-rodsconnecting said rollers with the carriage, rela- ..tively revoluble dashboards in the bulkheads and forming water-tight joints therewith, and an arm connecting said dashboards with the revoluble tracks, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a life-boat, a revoluble cigar-shaped shell, bulkheads therein, stationary tracks secured to each bulkhead, an annular track surrounding the stationary track, antifrictionrollers between said tracks, a carriage suspended within the shell, rods connecting said carriage, at each side and at the center with said annular tracks and turnbuckles in said supporting-rods, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

5. In a life-boat, a cigar-shaped revoluble shell, stationary annular tracks secured to said shell, antifriction-rollers upon said tracks, rims connecting said rollers, a carriage suspended within the shell, adjustable supporting-rods connecting the rims and the carriage, and supplementary rollers between the carriage and the shell, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

6. In a life-boat, a revoluble cigar-shaped shell, a carriage revolubly suspended within said shell, andhaving a lateral groove near the longitudinal center, a rib on the shell entering said groove, and antifriction-rollers between the sides of said rib and the sides of said groove, substantially as and for the pur pose set forth. I

7. In a life-boat, a cigar-shaped shell, annular tracks attached to said shell, a relatively revoluble carriage suspended in said shell, antifriction-rollers connected with the tracks, adjustable supporting-rods, connecting said rollers with and supporting the carriage, and

brake-levers at the ends of the carriage, a bulkhead in each end of the shell, revoluble dashboards in said bulkheads, hinged doors upon said dashboards, one of said doors being perforated for air-passages, annular walls connecting the bulkheads with the ends of the boat forming air-tight compartments with the bulkheads and the shell, conical openings from the bulkheads to the ends of the boat, pipes leading from said openingsto the periphery of the shell, and an inclosing device'for said openings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a life-boat, a series of ribs, a watertight shell over the ribs,a coat of non-heat-conducting substance over the shell, and a canvas covering over all forming acigar-shaped shell,

IIO

a bulkhead at each end of said shell forming a covering over all, substantially as and for 10 air-chambers and having an opening in the the purpose set forth. center communicating With the open air, a rev- Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, this 10th oluble carriage suspended Within said shell, day of November, 1903.

5 and antifriction-rollers supporting the same,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v ROBERT DAVID MAYO 9. Ina life-boat, a shell formed of ribs, a In presence 0f- Water-tight shell over said ribs, a non-heat- H. S. OSBORN,

conducting insulating-coat over said shell,and I TIIIEL J. CILLEY. 

